Mikel Arteta is optimistic Arsenal can beat Bayern Munich in the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final but he admits his side can’t afford to make further sloppy mistakes.
Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners an early lead but the visitors struck back before the break with Serge Gnabry slotting through David Raya’s legs and Harry Kane converting a penalty after William Saliba had taken down Leroy Sane.
Despite having plenty of the ball, Arsenal weren’t at their slick attacking best. However, they did manage a telling moment of quality with 16 minutes remaining when substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard combined in the box to make it 2-2.
The Gunners felt they should have had a penalty at the death when Bukayo Saka was clipped by Manuel Neuer but the Swedish official Glenn Nyberg waved away their claims to leave the tie on a knife-edge.
“I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“We scored a really good goal and then after that is the moment of the game when Ben [White] is in front of [Manuel] Neuer and if we make it 2-0 it would be a very different match.
“After that the ball is open, we gave it to the opponent and they scored. That created some uncertainty.
“The second goal as well is unusual for us to concede but this is the Champions League, if you make a mistake you get punished.
“A lot of things today we have not done to the standards we usually do and that has allowed them spaces to run and they are very dangerous. The Champions League, if you give something they take it.”
In a separate interview with Arsenal.com he also touched on the way his players regrouped after the break.
“The team reacted really well because the game can become very chaotic and you can start to lose some discipline and start to allow them to run, and in that moment, you can lose the tie,” he said.
“The team never did that, we made some changes, we were dominant again and the subs again provided a great moment that poses the tie 50-50 and now we have to go to Munich.”
We can do it!
Yes we can!
“and now we have to go to Munich.”
There are worse places to go to.
That Trossard goal could prove to be pivotal. For me, Jesus has to start in Munich, he is the difference maker for us in the champions league in my opinion. Hopefully our defence can be as good as we were at the etihad, and i can see Jesus doing what he done at Sevilla. Swap him for Martinelli out left, or put him in the 9 position. He has to start. Martinelli cannot seem to get past his man at the moment. A quick counter attack could be the decider in Munich, Martinelli is quick, but so is Jesus, i… Read more »
At Bayern:
Raya
White Saliba Gaby tomi
Rice Havertz
Saka odegaard Martinelli
Jesus
maybe trossard instead of martinelli? i know tros is a quality impact sub but so is martinelli if we fall behind
I prefer Trossard to Martinelli as a sub. He is more adept at working a tired defence than Martinelli. Besides, I can bet on him putting chances away because of his calm and precision. There is still a bit of untamed rashness about Martinelli in front of goal. Martinelli starts at Munich, Trossard finishes (no pun intended).
If it comes down to tactical changes I very much back Arteta. Unfortunately there may be more to it. Let’s get some momentum back on Sunday
This was a really humbling game, but will serve Arsenal well. Important lessons have to be learned by the players and by the coach. For the players, this was their first experience of playing European royalty midweek. They looked a bit dazed by the occasion, as did the fans. That will pass, but we have to suffer some growing pains in the process. This competition is unique and its demands are different. The only way to get used to that is to keep playing in it and this was our first step in that journey. For the manager, recognize when… Read more »
I definitely think we are capable in Munich, gave away 2 poor goals after looking comfortable. They relied on breakaways so we just need to be more savvy if we get in front. Trossard was an absolute bargain. Tough one to call on whether he starts as good arguments for the others so leave that to Arteta!